re: #140 lawhawk

What is this traditional marriage they speak of?

Abraham had a wife Sarah, and impregnated his servant Hagar to have two kids - Isaac and Ishmail.
Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel (and impregnated two servants) to give him 12 sons, and several daughters.

That’s some serious upkeep.

There’s a lot to be said for the Samoan traditional family.

Before the church and government took hold of the situation, a chief in his lifetime might be legally married fifty or more times. The high chiefs yielded to the wish of their fellow councilmen in order to be honoured and supported legally. In village function the high chief is greatly honoured when all his children from many villages with relatives from their mothers’ side, come with voluntary contributions to defray the expenses of the occasion. Evidently, this is the reason why the more wives the high chief has the better they liked it in the village. All the chief’s children are always loyal and they also consider it a great honour to them to be present in all the village functions, to serve and help their father.

The kings’ love affairs are somewhat different. It was common practice among the nobility for the princess of high-ranking village maid to do the proposing, not the king. In the formal procedure, the princess or village maid would go to the king’s palace, accompanied by one high talking chief. They would be carrying an Ie-Toga, some fine mats and tapa cloths. Before the king, she would bow and say “I was sent by my father to take care of Your Majesty’s bedding.” The talking chief then completes the proposing speech and announces the tribute as he presents the princess’ token of love which she had brought to the king. This action is known as Faa-Manamea (ladies proposing). Should the proposal be given the king’s consent, the high talking chief leaves the princess in the palace. Elaborate celebration of the king’s wedding follows, in which his whole dominion participates in the feasting and awarding of dowries. “